Deeply moving study of the tyrannical and rigid requirements of New York high society in the late 19th century and the effect of those strictures on the lives of three people. Vividly characterized drama of affection thwarted by a man’s sense of honor, family, and societal pressures. A long-time favorite with readers and critics alike.
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Classic story of wasted lives, set against a bleak New England background. Superbly delineated characters in a hauntingly grim tale of thwarted love. Considered by many to be Wharton's masterpiece.
Short Stories by Edith Wharton Includes 7 superbly crafted tales of love and marriage, divorce and other topics: "Souls Belated," "The Pelican," "The Muse's Tragedy," "Expiation," "The Dilettante," "Xingu," and "The Other Two."
Main Street by Sinclair Lewis Classic satire of small-town America. A young newlywed encounters bigotry, hypocrisy, and complacency when she tries to transform Gopher Prairie, Minnesota, into a place of beauty and culture.
A Modern Instance by William Dean Howells This classic of American realism depicts a clash of old and new worlds. Its portrait of a failing marriage explores social and moral issues involving family life and women's traditional roles.
Summer by Edith Wharton One of the first novels to deal honestly with a woman's sexual awakening, Summer created a sensation upon its 1917 publication, shattering conventional standards with candor and realism.
The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington The lives and changing fortunes of three generations of a once-powerful and socially prominent family are chronicled in this vivid portrait of the corrupting influence of greed and materialism.
